Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 vs Mammut Aenergy ST 32
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Ski Touring Backpacks: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Dawn Patrol 32 combines a separate snow safety pocket, a tuck-away diagonal carry, and back-panel access in a 1.17 kg pack. The Aenergy ST 32 gives you A-frame and diagonal carry plus a helmet carrier for less.
Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32
Buy itA 32 litre touring pack built around the things you touch every lap: a tuck-away diagonal ski carry, a separate snow safety pocket, and back-panel access.
- The snow safety pocket is separate and easily accessed, so shovel and probe come out without unpacking the main compartment.
- The ski carry tucks away when you are skiing downhill, and the pack also has a vertical snowboard carry.
- At 1.17 kg it is light for a 32 litre pack with a form-fitting suspension and an insulated shoulder pocket for a hydration tube, soft flask, or radio.
- Black Diamond lists exterior attachment points for a helmet, not a dedicated helmet carry system.
- It carries a diagonal ski carry only, so skiers who prefer A-frame have to look at other packs.
- The maker page does not list an airbag option, and it showed as out of stock when we checked, so sizes can sell out mid-season.
Mammut Aenergy ST 32
Buy itA lightweight 32 litre touring pack that offers both diagonal and A-frame ski carry, an integrated helmet carrier, and full-zip access to the main compartment.
- Mammut lists both diagonal and A-frame ski carrying systems plus a snowboard attachment, which covers most ways people carry skis.
- A large full zipper opens the main compartment completely, and there is an integrated helmet carrier.
- It weighs 1150 g and has an aluminium frame, an elasticated chest strap, and a hydration system-compatible design.
- Mammut lists a compartment for avalanche equipment but does not describe it as a separate pocket, so it may be less quick than a dedicated one.
- The page lists no rain cover.
- No airbag option is listed on the page.
Side by side
| Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 | Mammut Aenergy ST 32 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Ski tourers who want one dependable 30 litre class pack for day tours and are happy with a diagonal carry. | Skiers who want carry-system flexibility and a helmet carrier without paying for the top-end pack. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 - A 32 litre touring pack built around the things you touch every lap: a tuck-away diagonal ski carry, a separate snow safety pocket, and back-panel access. Choose the Mammut Aenergy ST 32 instead if skiers who want carry-system flexibility and a helmet carrier without paying for the top-end pack.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Ski Touring Backpacks: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).